Alan B. Whelpton AM, ILS President spent three days in Qatar on his way to the Board of Directors Meetings that took place in Sharm El-Sheikh (Egypt) next week.

He met H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and discussed lifesaving issues in Qatar and in the Gulf region and how lifesaving would best be developed here.

H.E. Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani is the Secretary General of the Qatar National Olympic Committee, but also the Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia, the Board Member of the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee and the President of the Qatar Fencing Federation.

H.E. Sheikh Saoud Al-Thani informed the ILS President that Qatar is very much aware of the importance of water safety and that he would be happy with the support ILS could give in order to set up first aid, resuscitation, lifesaving and lifeguarding courses and to develop lifesaving in the country. He agreed to implement the ILS certification in Qatar and is very much in favour that Qatar becomes a full member of ILS. Qatar is currently a corresponding member of ILS.

H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani was awarded the Citation of Merit of the International Life Saving Federation and the recitals were pronounced by the ILS Secretary General who also joined the ILS President on his visit to H.E. Sheikh Saoud.

Tomorrow 12 February the ILS President and Secretay General will visit the Headquarters of the Swimming Federation, followed by a visit of the Marine Sports Federation and finally a visit of the Doha Asian Games Headquarters.

Alan Whelpton will also visit some sports venues foreseen for the Asian Games that will be held in Qatar in 2006 and amongst others he will visit the air-conditioned football dome that is under construction.